Unable to edit hosts file


  1. Posts : 14
    7 32bit
       #1

    Unable to edit hosts file


    Hello,

    I have a laptop that it doesn't allow me to edit hosts file. I tried many ways first I tried to give myself permissions in properties - edit but it gave me 'access denied' when trying to apply.. And I tried a method I found on google is to open a notepad with administration then open the hosts file and edit it but it was the same result..

    What is the issue here? could it be a simple thing I'm missing??
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #2

    Assuming you have administrator permissions, the easiest way I have found is to right-click on notepad.exe and "Run as Administrator"

    Then load the host file into Notepad from inside notepad and edit

    Allows edits without messing the permissions up (malware can access files with less security )
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 14
    7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Barman58 said:
    Assuming you have administrator permissions, the easiest way I have found is to right-click on notepad.exe and "Run as Administrator"

    Then load the host file into Notepad from inside notepad and edit

    Allows edits without messing the permissions up (malware can access files with less security )
    Hello, Sorry for the delayment.

    It looks like the laptop is not on administrator account or something cause when I go to User Accounts in CP there's no administrator word under the name..

    To clear things out.. The laptop isn't mine but it's for a close friend and I wanted to edit hosts file to remove facebook blocking and I can't call my friend to ask him for his user account atm..

    Anyway, I'm not gonna ask you to tell me how can I edit hosts file under this situation cause it would sound bad lol so you can close the thread here :)

    Thanks for your time.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #4

    The whole point of having security on the hosts file is to better secure the system against malware re-directing net calls - and of course you have to have admin access to change this - it's the fault of the malware scum that this needs to be done and the problems this causes to legitimate users.

    I always place my blocks to facebook and the like in a secure router and never need to touch the old Hosts files
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 14
    7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    You're right about this..

    But I just have a question irrelevant to this matter but about windows accounts. When I go to switch users I only see the user account I'm currently using and another one named new user which requires me to put a username and password but why I'm I not seeing the administrator account of my friend? is it hidden by some mean?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #6

    Could be that the administrator account is hidden, there are various ways to get this to happen - but you need to speak to your friend to access this account
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 14
    7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Alright mate, thanks for the help :)
      My Computer


 

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